c3a and c4a test

HI, on the CFS/Fibro board someone metioned this test. If it is elevated this is related to Lyme. It is for Anaphilatoxins. Has anyone had any experience with these tests or know something about them? Thanks, Jess

Complement Split Products C3a and C4a Are Early Markers of Acute Lyme Disease in Tick-Bite Patients in the United States (Paper Accepted 2007 for publication in The International Archives of Allergy and Immunology)

Background: Current laboratory markers do not readily detect acute Lyme disease. We assessed the utility of complement and its split products as markers of Lyme disease in patients shortly after a tick bite.

Results: C2, C4, C3, and Factor B levels were within normal ranges in all groups. C3a and C4a levels were significantly higher in acute Lyme disease patients than in tick-bite and healthy control groups (both p<0.001). All acute Lyme disease patients, regardless of EM, had elevated levels of C3a or C4a. Few tick-bite controls had elevated levels of C3a (2/20) or C4a (5/24); only one of the healthy control subjects had elevated C3a (0/46) or C4a (1/32).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that C3a and C4a may be useful markers of Lyme disease in patients seen shortly after tick-bite, even in those without EM.

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I think the important info is in the conclusion - it's likely more definitive for EARLY lyme vs late/chronic/post-lyme.

I don't know anything more about myself obviously, but, there is more info there about tests and lots more, you might find it interesting.